2005 Softball

Ohio Northern vs. Bluffton (DH)

Beavers split with Polar Bears in doubleheader

By Ben Risinger, sports information directorMarch 16, 2005

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team (5-3) split their doubleheader
with Ohio Northern on March 16. The Polar Bears took the first game 4-2 with the Beavers
picking up the win in the nightcap 2-1.

The Beavers held on to a one run lead for most of game one until the top of the seventh
inning when Ohio Northern's bats came alive. The Polar Bears scored four runs in the
top of the inning to go up 4-1. Bluffton gave it all they had in the bottom of the
seventh to score one run, but could not come away with the victory. Ohio Northern
took the first game 4-2.

Leading Bluffton offensively in the contest was senior Mandy Snider (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) and sophomore Carrie Weisbecker (Okeana/Ross) with two hits each. Junior pitcher Sarah Betts (Bryan/Bryan) picked up her third loss of the year on the mound. Betts struck out
four batters and gave up nine hits in the outing.

Ohio Northern snuck out to a quick lead 1-0 in the top of the second in game two.
Senior Michelle Pleiman (Yorkshire/Minster) then belted out a one-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to
tie the game at one all. In the bottom of the sixth, Mandy Snider was walked and then
scored the winning run off of an error by ONU's first baseman. The Beavers came away
with the win in game two 2-1.

Freshman Tonya Dean (Kettering/Fairmount) picked up her first collegiate victory on the mound in the
nightcap. Dean struck out one, walked one batter and gave up five hits in the game.

Bluffton University will be back in action this Saturday, March 19, when they travel
to Adrian College. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.